Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the Gagangir terror attack, where seven people, including a doctor and five construction workers, were killed on Sunday. Addressing a gathering in Srinagar, Sinha expressed his condolences and urged the Jammu and Kashmir Police to swiftly identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
A doctor, Shahnawaz Dar, a designer, and five workers were shot by terrorists at a construction site in Gagangir, Ganderbal district. Mohsin Shahnawaz Dar, the son of Dr. Shahnawaz, expressed grief over his father’s death, sharing that his father had hoped he would become a doctor, though Mohsin aspired to become an IAS officer. He called upon the administration for help in achieving his dream after his father’s tragic death.
The attack occurred as the workers were returning to their camp from a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway. Terrorist group The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the killings, which reportedly targeted migrant workers. The TRF’s leader, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, is believed to have masterminded the attack.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah condemned the violence, blaming Pakistan for its role in promoting terror activities. He urged Pakistan’s leadership to halt terror activities if they seek improved relations with India. Abdullah firmly stated, “Kashmir will not become Pakistan,” and warned of severe consequences if terrorism continues.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), led by a senior officer, arrived at the attack site in Ganderbal to assist local police in the investigation. The NIA is expected to take over the probe into the attack, with a Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officer leading the investigation.
Following the attack, security forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), heightened their presence and cordoned off the area. The attack marks a significant escalation in violence in the Ganderbal region, which had largely remained peaceful for over a decade.
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Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid condemned Pakistan’s “deep state” for orchestrating the attack, particularly in light of recent diplomatic engagements between India and Pakistan.